diff --git a/midx.c b/midx.c
index b8f42bf31e..25bfb335ca 100644
--- a/midx.c
+++ b/midx.c
@@ -956,7 +956,6 @@ static int write_midx_internal(const char *object_dir, struct multi_pack_index *
 
 	hold_lock_file_for_update(&lk, midx_name, LOCK_DIE_ON_ERROR);
 	f = hashfd(get_lock_file_fd(&lk), get_lock_file_path(&lk));
-	FREE_AND_NULL(midx_name);
 
 	if (ctx.m)
 		close_midx(ctx.m);